Tubby Finger Puppets
Designed by Mary J. Saunders
Materials:
Small amounts of worsted weight yarn.
Red, yellow, green, and purple for main color, and gray or beige for
contrasting color. Cotton balls, scraps of black felt, and 1/4" doll eyes
(the goggly kind). Hot glue gun for gluing facial features in place.
Needles:
US size 5 double pointed needles. (I
also use one size 7 needle to cast stitches onto, otherwise my stitches are too
tight.) One tapestry needle.
Abbreviations:
St/sts
=stitch/stitches
Dpn
= double pointed needle/needles
K
= knit
P
= purl
K2tog
= knit 2 together
K2tog-b
=knit 2 together through the back loop
BI
= bar increase, knit in front loop of st and knit in back loop of same st
I-cord
= a type of tubular knitting. Place
base sts on dpn. Do not turn work.
At the end of each row slip the sts to the other end of the dpn and knit,
pulling the yarn tightly from the opposite end.
Sl
= slip
PSSO
= pass slipped stitch over
Beg
= beginning
Rnd/rnds
= round/rounds
Puppet
Body:
With
main color, cast on 12 sts, divide on 3 needles and join being careful not to
twist.
Rnds
1-3: * k1, p1, rep from * to end.
Rnds
4-13: k.
Rnd
14: * k1, k2tog, rep from * to end (8 sts).
Rnd
15: k2tog to end (4 sts).
Rnd
16: BI in each st (8 sts).
Rnd
17: * k1, BI in next st * to end (12 sts).
Rnds
18-23: k.
Rnd
24: k2tog to end (6 sts).
Stop
at this point and, leaving work on needles, stuff 1 large or 2 small cotton
balls in head, then continue.
Rnd
25: k.
Rnd
26: k2tog across, putting all 3 sts on one dp needle.
Make
antenna:
Green
puppet: Work 6 rows of I-cord over the 3 sts left on the dpn.
Next row: sl 1, k2tog, PSSO. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn
through remaining st, pull tight, and pull end of yarn to inside antenna to
conceal it.
Red
puppet: Work 12 rows of I-cord over the 3 sts left on the dpn.
Next row: sl 1, k2tog, PSSO. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn
through remaining st, pull tight. Using
end of yarn, secure top of antenna to base, forming a circle.
Secure end of yarn and pull it to inside of antenna to conceal it.
Purple
puppet: Work same as red puppet but after forming circle make 2 stitches with
the tapestry needle pulling the top of the circle down and flattening it into a
triangle shape. Secure end of yarn and pull it to inside of antenna to conceal
it.
Yellow
puppet: Work 12 rows of I-cord over the 3 sts left on the dpn.
Next row: sl 1, k2tog, PSSO. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn
through remaining st, pull tight. Form
a loop in the antenna and, using end of yarn, secure the loop in place.
Secure end of yarn and pull it to inside of antenna to conceal it.
Ears
(make 2):
Using
same color as puppet body, pick up and knit 4 sts on side of head in square
shape. Divide on 3 needles.
Next rnd: BI in each st (8 sts). Next
rnd: bind off in k. Cut yarn and
put on tapestry needle. Secure last
bound off st the first bound off st. Secure
end of yarn and pull through center of ear to inside of head to conceal it.
Pull beginning end of yarn through head also to conceal it.
Arms
(make 2):
Using
same color as puppet body, pick up and knit 4 sts on side of body in square
shape. Make 4 st I-cord for 6 rows.
Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts, secure yarn and
pull end of yarn back through arm to conceal it. Pull beginning end of yarn up through arm also to conceal it.
Finishing:
Finish all puppets by making TV screen on front of body. Using tapestry needle and contrasting color work duplicate st over 9 sts (3x3 square) on center front of body. Secure and conceal all loose yarn ends. Glue eyes in place on face and use pieces of black felt glued in place for mouths.
(Do not mass reproduce or distribute this pattern, post it to another web site, or use the pattern in any way for a profit without my written permission. To do so is a violation of copyright.)
Last revised 09/02/00